Theatrical



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

E. W. EMERSON. THEATRIOAL APPLIANCE.

7v m 8 00 1 m 2 y 1 a 0 d av t n 6 b a P (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. E. W. EMERSON.

THBATRIGAL APPLIANCE.

No. 406.271. Patented July 2} 1889 GIL r um 14km q'vitmeowo UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE.

EDXVARD EMERSON, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF, WILLIAM \VESLEY COE, AND FRANK GILMAN REYNOLDS, OF SAME PLACE.

THEATRICAL APPLIANCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 406,271, dated July 2, 1889.

- Applicationfiletl April 2, 1888. Serial No. 269,369. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWARD W. EMERSON,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new an d useful Improvements in Theatrical Appliances; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable othersskilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to appliances for producing figures partly illusory and in part real upon the stage of a theater or in parlor entertainments, the object being to so combine the real with the illusory figure as to give the audience an impression that the whole is a reality. In carrying out these objects a frame is prepared which supportsta pictureframe of sufficient size to contain a full-length picture of aperson. Setting into this pictureframe and held therein by buttons or other suitable devices is a canvas-covered frame or screen not extending up the whole height of the picture-frame, but at a height about that of a persons shoulders, upon which is painted a headless figure presenting the costume of the character it it desired to represent. In place of the arms of the figure being painted on this screen two holes are formed in the same at the point where the shoulders come. To these holes are attached sleeves, and at the point where the neck of the figure terminates a semicircular recess is made, which receives the chin of the person standing behind the picture, his arms being thrust through the sleeves, thus presenting to the spectator in front a complete picture of the character to be represented, but a picture the hands and arms of which, as well as face and eyes, are movable. Side screens are attached to the frame which contains the picture and prevent a view from the front of anything behind it, and ascreen painted to resemble the background of the'picture is placed in the rear of the person behind it, so that when viewed from the front it shall appear as apart of the said background.

To more fully explain the construction of the apparatus, I will describe it in detail in connection with the figures of the drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of the apparatus complete. Fig. 2 is a front view of one of the painted screens with the sleeves attach ed. Fig.3 is a rear view showing the construction and arrangement of the several parts.

In the figures, A represents a frame composed of the top and bottom pieces a and a, connected by the vertical pieces b I), thus i11- closing a rectangular space crossed by the horizontal strips Z) 1) near the top and bottom. To these strips are secured the vertical strips 0 c, forming another rectangle within that formed by the pieces a a andb b, the space between being covered by canvas painted any suitable color. The inner frame formed by the strips 17- b' and c carries a picture-frame B, which may be gilt or provided with other ornamentation, as desired. This pictureframe is designed to hold ascreen G, the frame of which is composed of the narrow side strips 0 c and similar bottom strip d, the connection between the tops of these side strips being made by the wide board (I, through which the two arm-holes e c are cut. A semicircular recess c is also cut out of the upper edge of the board to receive the chin of the person who is to personate a character. This frame is covered with canvas, and painted, as shown in Fig. 2, with the costume of the character it is intended to represent. The cloth sleeves ff of a habit corresponding with that shown by the painting are secured in the arm-holes e e in any suitable manner. It will be evident that these screens 0, each representing the costume of a different character, may be provided in any number, and that when it is desired to represent a new character the screen in the picture-frame may be removed, and another illustrating a different character substituted, this substitution being made easy by the fact that the screens 0 are preferably held in place in the picture-frames by simply turnin g buttons '5 1', making a quick and easily-adjusted fastening.

To each side of the frame A is attached, preferably by hinges, so that they may be adjusted to any angle with said frame, the screen s D D. These screens are composed of a marginal wooden frame covered with paper or canvas, and may be plain or ornamented, as described.

Supported in any suitable manner in rear of the upper part of the picture-frame, so as to cover the opening in the same above the screen C when viewed from the front, is the screen E, painted the same color as the background of the picture on said screen C, and apparently forming a continuation of said background from the spectators point of view.

It thus will be apparent that the whole forms a ready and complete apparatus for enabling character artists to impersonate livin g pictures of the different burlesque or other characters represented in the entertainments given by them for the education or amusement of the people.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent the following:

1. As an improvement in theater appliances, the combination of side screens with a vertical frame inclosing a picture-frame, removable screens having a costume painted thereon, and a screen suspended above and in rear of the removable screen to form a continuation of the background of the picture painted thereon, substantially as set forth.

2. As an improvement in theater appliances, the combination of side screens with a vertical frame inclosing a picture-frame, removable screens having a costume painted thereon, and provided with sleeves of cloth that admit the arms of a person standing behind the sereen, and a screen suspended above and in rear of the removable screen to form a continuation of the background of the picture painted thereon, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof Iatfix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ED \VARD W. EMERSON.

Witnesses:

Geo. W. AVERELL, CHARLES Laws. 

